1991 Honda Prelude — MOT failures & pass rate
276 MOT tests on the 1991 Honda Prelude are in this dataset, and 81.2% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (22.3% fail rate), the 1991 Prelude comes out 3.4pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (7.6%) and body, structure & corrosion (7.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 26 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 22.2% versus 11.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 22.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 7.6% | 21 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 21 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.6% | 21 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 20 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 8 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.2% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 26 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 17 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 15 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 5 | Joints | 11 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 8 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 22.8% | 63 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.9% | 55 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.7% | 46 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.6% | 43 |
| 5 | Tyres | 10.1% | 28 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 23 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 35 | 11.4% |
| 60-90k | 79 | 16.5% |
| 90-120k | 76 | 23.7% |
| 120-150k | 41 | 17.1% |
| 150k+ | 45 | 22.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 57 | 14.0% |
| 2022 | 56 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 56 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 55 | 21.8% |
| 2025 | 52 | 19.2% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Prelude
On a 1991 Prelude, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (7.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (7.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1991 Honda Preludes pass their MOT?
81.2% of the 276 1991 Honda Prelude MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Honda Prelude?
Brakes, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (7.6%).
Does the 1991 Prelude get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 30-60k band to 22.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 276 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.